Rifle Gap State Park

The reservoir at Rifle Gap State Park draws boats of all kinds. | Photo by crazybarefootpoet / flickr.com

Rifle Gap State Park
Garfield County, north of Rifle

A 350-acre reservoir at Rifle Gap State Park offers some of the best boating, fishing, swimming, waterskiing and windsurfing in Colorado.

A beach is open in the summer, and picnicking is also available.

Fishing for rainbow and German brown trout, walleye, pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass and yellow perch is available in the lake, with ice fishing popular in the winter.

No designated hiking trails are in the park. But it is possible to walk around the lake and BLM land adjacent to the park has trails available.

The boat ramp is closed in the winter, but many campsites are open year round and offer varied facilities. Campers can access several nearby ski areas as well as the Glenwood Springs hot mineral pool, about 40 miles away.

Also available are snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, although there are no groomed trails in the park.